Compartment fill verification in ready-meal trays
After filling, tray compartments are imaged by an overhead thermal camera. Temperature patterns of food and empty compartments are compared using compartment masks; an underfilled tray is diverted to the side channel.
The fill result for each compartment is sent to the PLC; an incomplete tray is diverted to the side channel. The thermal pattern and compartment decisions are shown on the operator display.
- 01 Infeed
- 02 Trigger
- 03 Acquire
- 04 Analyse
- 05 Decision and separation
The product is carried into the inspection station.
- Filled compartments
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- Compartment coverage
- —
- Compartment temperature
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Scenes are illustrative simulations; they are not customer references or performance guarantees.
Need
Food of similar colour and the empty tray floor can blend in visible light. Cooling after filling and changes in tray position affect thermal-pattern matching.
Solution approach
An overhead thermal camera views the filling exit; an adjacent area camera references the tray edges. Temperature pattern and food coverage inside aligned compartment masks are compared with the recipe. A compartment without the expected fill is marked separately.
Process steps
- 01
Infeed
The product is carried into the inspection station.
- 02
Trigger
The photo-sensor reports the product position.
- 03
Acquire
Tray edges and the thermal fill image are acquired.
- 04
Analyse
Coverage and temperature patterns are compared within compartment masks.
- 05
Decision and separation
The result is sent to the display and PLC; a non-conforming product is separated.
Related applications
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